If you feel a bit cramped in your house, home remodeling is a popular solution. Finding the right way to create more space can dramatically change how you feel about your home. Don't think that just because your house has a small footprint that you can 't expand. Whether your lot has tight boundaries to your neighbors or you live in one of the many planned communities in the San Diego area, you still have several options to maximize your space. Here are 5 ways to make the most of a small footprint with a home remodel.
1. Add a Floor
If you can't build out, build up. A second-story room addition over the garage or another floor over existing construction can significantly increase your square footage without infringing on your property boundaries. A qualified remodeler, like Lars, can blend in the new addition's exterior to make it look like it's always been a part of the house. We can also review the planning community and zoning requirement to make sure that your home addition ideas will fit in with the guidelines.
2. Take Advantage of Wall Space
Your walls are more than just a place to hang pictures. We can improve their form and function with some classic or contemporary design ideas. One option is to install open or built-in organizer shelves against your kitchen and bedroom walls to add storage space for things that you use every day. For your bathroom remodel, consider niches in your shower walls for soap, shampoo and other necessities. Keep in mind that using glass and mirrors are a classic way to make any room look and feel larger. If you're interested in replacing a full wall with a wall-size glass panel, find out how to Invite the Outdoors In With Lift and Slide Doors by reading our recent blog about it.
3. Use Color
Color creates an optical illusion, especially when it comes to home interiors. White and light colors on the walls and ceiling make any room look larger. If you're craving color, you can use it in accent pieces and furnishings.
4. Let In the Light
Natural light can make spaces look and feel bigger. Replace your exterior-facing doors with styles that have built-in windows. Add windows to rooms without them. Choose window treatments carefully to let in the most sunlight. For rooms that already have some natural light coming in through the windows, enhance the effect by making the windows bigger. Windows on your walls and doors aren't the only options for natural light. Skylights can be strategically placed to further open up a room. Learn more about this creative natural light feature from our Fresh Insights With Skylights blog post.
5. Open Up Floor Plans
One of reasons you may feel cramped in your home is because you have walls carving up your floor plan into several small spaces. By eliminating a few walls, your home can have a dramatically different look. For example, take down the walls framing your kitchen to double your meal preparation, cooking and eating areas. If you have a formal dining room and living room, combine these spaces to form a great room. Are the walls around your staircases necessary, or are they just there for show? There could be enclosed spaces beneath your steps that are ideal for shelved storage. You could also drop the walls encasing your stairs to half the height, creating a pony wall with open space above it.
If you're after a fresh look for your San Diego home, but you're limited by your footprint, ask our Lars Remodeling and Design team for a quote. Use the contact form on the right-hand side of the page to tell us about your project.
